Translation guide
The English word 'rot' refers to the process of organic decay, often with a focus on smell, appearance, or structural breakdown. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for literal rotting, figurative decay, and related states.
To describe something organic breaking down, decomposing, or spoiling naturally.
The most common and general verb for organic matter rotting, spoiling, or going bad. Intransitive.
このリンゴはもう腐っている。
This apple is already rotten.
夏は食べ物が腐りやすい。
Food rots easily in summer.
More formal or technical term for decomposition or putrefaction. Often used in scientific or written contexts.
死体が腐敗して悪臭を放っていた。
The corpse was rotting and emitting a foul odor.
Specifically for wood, plants, or structures decaying over a long time, often implying crumbling or losing form. Literary nuance.
古い木の橋が朽ちてしまった。
The old wooden bridge rotted away.
To describe teeth rotting or developing cavities.
The standard way to say a tooth has decayed or has a cavity. Literally 'become a bug tooth'.
甘いものを食べすぎて虫歯になった。
I ate too many sweets and got a cavity.
Literary or dramatic verb for something eating away or corroding, including teeth. Not for everyday cavity talk.
酸が歯を蝕んでいる。
Acid is rotting my teeth.
To describe moral corruption, societal decline, or institutional decay.
Used figuratively for corruption, especially political or moral decay. Same word as organic decay but context distinguishes.
政府の腐敗が深刻な問題だ。
Government corruption is a serious problem.
組織の内部が腐敗している。
The organization is rotting from within.
Moral decay or depravity, often of a person's character. Implies falling from a higher state.
彼は酒とギャンブルで堕落した。
He rotted away through drink and gambling.
Figurative use for fame, talent, or legacy fading or rotting away. Poetic.
To describe the stench of decay.
Literally 'rotten smell'. The most direct and common way.
部屋中に腐った臭いがする。
The room smells of rot.
General word for stench or foul odor, often implying rot.
腐敗した肉の悪臭が漂っていた。
The stench of rotting meat hung in the air.
To say something causes rot or spoilage.
Transitive form of 腐る. To make something rot or spoil.
湿気が木材を腐らせた。
The moisture rotted the wood.
Saying 人が腐っている (a person is rotten) is very strong and insulting, implying moral corruption. Use with extreme caution. For 'lazy' or 'good-for-nothing', consider ダメ人間 or 怠け者 instead.
彼は本当にダメ人間だ。
He's a real good-for-nothing.
腐る is for organic spoilage (food, flesh) and is common in daily life. 朽ちる is for slow decay of wood, buildings, or abstract things like fame, and has a literary feel. Do not use 朽ちる for food.
果物が放置されて腐り始めた。
The fruit was left out and started to rot.
砂糖の取りすぎは歯を虫歯にします。
Too much sugar will rot your teeth.
Natural Japanese uses 虫歯になる, not a direct 'rot' verb.
その会社の文化は芯まで腐敗していた。
The company's culture was rotten to the core.
His fame will eventually rot away.